Huge wooden moose planned in Sweden

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Tourists in the northern reaches of Sweden are often hunting for a moose to eat, but one area will soon welcome them to eat inside a moose. A giant, wooden moose.

When completed, the 148-foot tall, 155-foot long moose will have a restaurant in its belly, as well as a concert hall, conference rooms and a shop, Thorbjorn Holmlund, project coordinator and local tourism promoter, said Thursday.

The monument will be so massive that its hooves will be firmly planted in two different counties, Vasterbotten and Norrbotten, about 540 miles north of Stockholm.

"The reason we decided to build a moose is because there is something magnificent about the animal. It's the king of the forest," Holmlund said.

Residents and officials hope the wooden moose will draw tourists to the region.

Holmlund insisted that the area has a lot worth seeing, but conceded that "it's in the middle of nowhere, so no one knows about it."